by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

Except that when the Eastern Conference and Western Conference meet Sunday in the NBA All-Star Game at the Toyota Center, it's still a game.

Well, sort of.

"The first half is the feel-out process," Miami Heat forward LeBron James said. "We try to get a feel on what we're going to see. The second half, everyone's competitive nature kicks in. At that time both teams want to win."

There's even a debate on whether you could say they give it their all in the second half.

So let's ask a coach:

"When it goes on and you get to the fourth quarter, it gets serious in the Allā??Star Game and they want to win," the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich said. "Things get a little chippier and very competitive."